Baltz on Ray Guy Award Watch List
8/5/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 5, 2009
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Junior Travis Baltz was named to the watch list for the 2009 Ray Guy Award, which honors the top punter in the nation.
Baltz was one of just nine punters from around the nation to make the preseason list, which was announced Wednesday by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
Baltz, a two-year starter, was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection last season after leading the league in punting average (41.1). He was a consensus preseason all-conference choice and a second-team preseason All-America choice by Athlon.
The Whitehouse, Ohio, native has played in each of the last 26 games and ranks fifth in school history with a career average of 41.0 yards per punt.
Baltz has also been a standout in the classroom, earning Academic All-ACC honors each of the last two seasons.
Baltz is the lone representative from the ACC. The other eight watch list members include Bryan Anger (California), Ben Armer (Western Michigan), Matt Dodge (East Carolina), Ryan Donahue (Iowa), Derek Epperson (Baylor), Chas Henry (Florida), Zoltan Mesko (Michigan) and Ross Thevenot (Tulane).
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in mid-November. The winner will be announced live during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing on ESPN Dec. 10.
The Greater Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia-native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Ray Guy. The awardwinner is determined by a national selection committee of FWAA sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners.
Baltz and the Terps begin preseason practice Monday.
Terp Notes:
Fridge on TV: Ralph Friedgen spent time Tuesday shooting a commercial for Medifast, Inc., which has aided the ninth-year head coach in losing over 100 pounds since October. WJLA-TV (ABC 7) in Washington, D.C., aired a feature story on the commercial and Friedgen's weight loss Tuesday evening. Friedgen will also appear on Thursday's edition of Washington Post Live which airs on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. He is expected to discuss Terrapins Rising and the upcoming season at 5:15 p.m. The Terps open the 2009 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at California.
Chillin' With the Fridge: Ralph Friedgen and members of the coaching staff will hold a meet-and-greet session - Chillin' with the Fridge - for football fans on Thursday at Caddie's on Cordell in Bethesda, Md. Friedgen, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator James Franklin, defensive coordinator Don Brown and special teams coordinator Charles Bankins will be available from 6-8 p.m. to visit with the crowd and give insight into the upcoming season.
Terrapins Rising Update: The fourth episode of Terrapins Rising aired Tuesday on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. The episodes air at 9:30 p.m. each Tuesday on Comcast. The previous week's show airs prior to the new episode (9 p.m.). Episodes which have already aired can be seen through Maryland All-Access or via ON-DEMAND on Comcast.
Planck Featured on `Football Saturdays in the South': Former Maryland football player and Under Armour founder Kevin Plank is featured on the second installment of `Football Saturdays in the South,' a summer television series which is in its sixth season. The series, with six one-hour episodes, is syndicated in 58 markets throughout the greater Southeast and Atlantic coast with Tim Brando serving as the host. The second installment airs locally on WTTG (Fox 5) at 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information click here.
Preseason Practice Open to MGN and Terrapin Club: Preseason practice kicks off Monday at the Terps' on-campus practice facility. Workouts are closed to the general public, but open to members of the Maryland Gridiron Network (MGN) and Terrapin Club. Click here to view a preseason practice schedule. MGN members and Terrapin Club members can check in at the main gate.
Tyser Tower Expansion Project: The newly-expanded Tyser Tower will officially open at the first home football game on Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. James Madison. The renovated towers include 64 luxury suites, and over 400 new mezzanine seats. Suites are available now on multi-year, annual and single-game lease terms and offer the most luxurious game viewing experience. Mezzanine Seating is available now on lifetime, 10-year or annual lease terms, and feature complimentary in-seat food and beverage service. For more information on these premium seating opportunities at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium, please call the Terrapin Club at (301) 314-7020, send an e-mail or visit www.GreatExpectationsAthletics.com.
Football Season Tickets on Sale: Season tickets for this fall's seven-game home slate, which includes matchups with Rutgers, Clemson, Virginia and Virginia Tech, start as low as $135 and are on sale through the Maryland Athletics Ticket Office. To purchase season tickets, call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here.
Tyser Tower Update: The Tyser Tower renovation project is on schedule and the upgraded facility will be operational for the home opener on Sept. 12 vs. James Madison. To view recent photos of the expansion project click here. To view live video of the Tyser Tower renovation project, click the following link: Construction Camera
